My Foray into My Midwestern Roots

Looking for Ancestors

To spend time searching for ancestors is to time-travel, in a sense. I find that as I find information pertaining to a g-g-grandparent or their siblings and the locales of their residences, I also learn more about the era in which they spent their life. To see the dress of the time period or read about their occupations and hardships is to spend time in the early 1900’s or late 1800’s or even further back.

However, there are still surnames that I’m anxious to locate in the censuses, cemeteries, or ancestral photos. These include:

JOHNSON – Jacob Johnson (3rd g-grandfather) born 1787 in New Jersey. Moved to Brown County, Ohio by 1816. Married Ann Shields (daughter of William and Mary Shields) in 1816. They were living in Rush County, Indiana by the 1850 Census. Jacob was reportedly of a family of 6 brothers. I’ve yet to locate his parents – I mean how many Johnson’s could there be, really?

WILT – Jonathan Wilt (3rd g-grandfather) born about 1800 in Virginia (probably) married Catherine Hollinger probably before 1827 in Virginia. There are reports that Jonathan’s father was Peter WILT – but I have no documentation.

NASH – Alexander Nash (also 3rd g-grandfather) born about 1808 in Pennsylvania married Elsy (or Elcie) – maiden name is reported to be Wininger – probably before 1837 in Pennsylvania. Elsy was born about 1812 in Pennsylvania. Alexander and Elsy have been located in 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 Censuses living in Henry County, Indiana. They had the following children: Christena (my 2nd g-grandmother), Sarah, Alexander, Catherine, Elsy, Nancy and Mary Adelaide.

WININGER – Parents of Elsy (see NASH above).

AMORE – William Amore (my 2nd g-grandfather) was born in February 1828 reportedly in Albany County, NY. He listed on the 1880 census that his father was born in England and his mother in NY. This is not the Italian pronounciation with the stress on the “e” (like amor-ay) – but A (rhymes with “hay”) – more. Or if it was the British pronounciation – could have been a (rhymes with “hah”) mor.

REED – My 2nd g-grandmother (married to William AMORE) was Charlotte Reed IMONS. I have reason to believe that she was married prior to William to a man named William H. Irwins in Coshocton County, Ohio. Charlotte was born in 1828 reportedly in Ohio. William and Charlotte’s youngest child was named Zachariah. Therefore, I believe Charlotte could have been the daughter of a Zachariah Reed found in the 1850 Census of Coshocton County. Would like to find documentation of this and Zachariah’s wife’s name.

LEWIS – Julia Ann Lewis (my 2nd gr-grandmother) was born in December 1815 in Ohio. She married Florus Allen House probably before 1838 probably in Michigan. They spent most of their married life in Coshocton County, Ohio. Florus was the son of Allen House and Editha Bigelow. Looking for Julia’s parents.